Multi-contact separable electrical connector

ABSTRACT

MATEABLE MULTIPLE CONTACT CONNECTOR PARTS EACH HAVE CONTACT BLOCKS WITH RIDGE AND GROOVE STRUCTURE OF FRUSTUM OF PYRAMID SHAPE, BETWEEN EACH OF WHICH, AND ON EACH OF WHICH ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ARE SECURED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SIMILAR CONTACTS ON A MATING PART.

-Jnn. 5,1971 v I v QNDREJKA 3,553,633

MULTI-CONTACT "SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 28. 1966 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Mi Jim. 5, 1971 Filed Feb. 28, 1966 MULTICONTAGT SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR A A. ONDREJKA 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

v A154??? Mona/m7 United States Patent 3,553,633 MULTI-CONTACT SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Albert A. Ondrejka, 3200 Glenvalley Drive, Midwest City, Okla. 73110 Filed Feb. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 532,538 Int. Cl. H01r 13/22, 13/64 U.S. Cl. 339-186 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mateable multiple contact connector parts each have contact blocks with ridge and groove structure of frustum of pyramid shape, between each of which, and on each of which electrical contacts are secured for engagement with similar contacts on a mating part.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to separable multi-contact electrical connectors suitable for connecting a cable to a piece of apparatus or another cable.

The armed services and industry use countless types of such connectors to couple pieces of electronic equipment and to extend connecting cables. The most common type comprises some form of pin and a mating sleeve; however, the pins are generally quite slender and in use become bent, broken or misaligned and the sleeves deformed so that good electrical contact cannot be made.

Another type makes use of fiat, springy members mating with similar unsupported members which give a wiping eifect, thus cleaning themselves with use and furnishing good electrical contact for a time. Eventually they become loose, break or lose their springness unless they are large and made of very heavy material. This precludes the use of multi-contacts and restricts their use.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple rnulti-contact electrical connector which will overcome the shortcomings of the presently available types.

It is another object of this invention to furnish such a connector with wiping contacts to provide a self-cleaning action.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a multi-contact connector with flat, Wiping contacts supported by the material of which the base is made.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a connector which can have a variety of shapes and which can provide the maximum number of contacts in a minimum of space.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an electrical connector which will provide good electrical contact and can be economically manufactured of easily obtainable material.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrical connector which will last through many cycles of make and break and which is insensitive to shock or vibration.

These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one-half of a connector;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of a contact for the connectors of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric drawing illustrating an 3,553,633 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 "ice alternative arrangement whereby the conductors are substantially completely embedded in a dielectric disc;

FIG. 5 is a segment of a plan view of the disc illustrating an alternative arrangement of the conductor elements;

FIG. 6 is a still further arrangement of the conductor elements also shown in a segmented plan view:

FIG. 7 is a view in cross section of an assembled connector of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a rectangular embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. 8 taken along lines IX-IX;

FIG. 10 is a cross section of an assembled connector of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a truncated pyramid type of tooth;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 taken along lines XII--XII;

FIG. 13 is a still further embodiment of the truncated pyramidal type wherein the conductors are differently placed; and

FIG. 14 as a cross-sectional view of FIG. 13 taken along lines XIVXIV.

One embodiment of my invention showing a series of tapered teeth or cogs of nonconducting material is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 where FIG. 2 corresponds to a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Basically, the device comprises a nonconducting base disc 10 having molded teeth or cogs 12 formed as a part thereof. The material for the disc should be of a nonconducting material such as plastic, hard rubber or glass. Since conductors are to be placed at both the roots and crests of the teeth 12, a series of holes 14 are drilled or preformed in the disc 10 in order to allow for passageway of conductors 16 therethrough.

FIG. 3 shows a typical conductor, in this case one for a crest, although reversal of the topmost portion would render it applicable for placement at the root. The conductor 16 has a flat ribbon portion 18 bent to conform to the crest of the tooth contour and when inverted conforms to the root contour. The terminal end or stud 20, which is inserted through the holes 14 of the disc 10, is attached to the ribbon portion 18 at one end and has its other end as a connecting point: for conductors of a cable. In order to provide integrity of the unit, the ribbon portion 18 of the crest conductors and the root conductors are recessed partially in the nonconducting disc 10. The embedding of the ribbon portion 18 of the conductors prevents rotation thereof. Thus, there is a slight protrusion of the conductors in this embodiment.

The embodiment of FIG. 4, however, has the ribbon portion of the conductors recessed such that they are substantially flush with the plasticof the nonconducting disc 10. A casing 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) houses the nonconducting disc 10 together with the assembled conductors and has an anular shoulder 24 in the casing 22 to provide a base for seating the dis-c 10. Rotation thereof is prevented by an internal key 26. The disc may be secured to the casing by screws, pins or glue; however, a snap ring 28 is shown for illustrative purposes. A cable (not shown) is made to enter the casing 22 at 30 such that the space 32 provides a volume for storage of the leads from the cable and also the point of joinder, either by soldering, crimping or other conventional securing means to the terminal ends 20. Conventional connector couplings or cable holders would be provided adjacent the entrance for securing the cable relative to the casing and/or securing the casing relative to another piece of equipment.

To facilitate proper alignment and polarization, an eX- ternal key 34 is provided on an upstanding cylindrical 3 lip of the casing in order to engage with a cavity of the mating portion of an assembled connector. Threads 36 are provided adjacent the cylindrical lip and forms a shoulder therewith for a sealing gasket in order to render the assembly of the two halves of the connector waterproof, as will be later described relative to FIG. 7.

FIG. 5 illustrates the nonconducting disc 10 with the tapered teeth 12 thereon and also shows more clearly the notch 38 which is engaged by the internal key 26 of the casing 22. The annular shoulder 40 provides the seat for the snap ring 28. The configuration of this figure shows the root conductors placed between crest conductors.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate method for placing the conductors where root and crest conductors are alternated in the radial direction. The variations in conductor arrangements are infinite.

FIG. 7 shows assembled halves of the electrical connector. The lower portion of the figure corresponds to that previously described relative to FIG. 1. The upper, mating half of the connector has like numerals applied to like parts with the exception that the letter A is associated with the numeral. Thus, the teeth 12A are made to mate with the teeth 12 of the nonconducting discs 10A and 10, respectively, with the key 34 providing proper alignment. The external thread 36 on the casing 22 of FIG. 1 meshes with the internal threaded portion of a rotatable knurled nut 42 which is sealed to its casing 22A by means of an O-ring 44. Gasket 46 is also placed between the casings to form the water-tight seal. Thus, it can be seen that the two connector halves are basically the same except for the fact that they are made complementary in order to mate and they provide for the advantages listed earlier in the specification.

Although the connectors thus far described have been 7 circular in form, the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate that the connector can be made in an oblong shape. When the oblong type is used, a flange 48 may be provided around the casing for connecting with a mating flange. The external keyway 34 would form the same function as it did in FIG. 1. A series of holes 50, best seen in FIG. 8, are provided around the flange 48 for connection with the mating half of the connector. The assembled units, illustrated in FIG. 10, shows two halves of an oblong connector mated together with bolts 52 extending through the holes 50 of each of the connector casings. The casings also are threaded at 54 for engagement with a panel or cable holder. Rather than utilizing a snap ring, as in FIG. 1, a screw 56 is provided through the nonconducting toothed portions for engagement with a boss or shoulder 58 of the casings. A gasket 46 provides the seal between the mating casings.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a dilferent embodiment of the connector wherein truncated pyramidal teeth 62 with crest and cavity conductors 64 are provided. The conductors are partially recessed in the roots and crests of the teeth. A keyway 38 would provide for proper alignment as illustrated relative to the previously described embodiments.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are a variation of the truncated pyramidal arrangement with the conductors 66 being of the disc type and placed on the sloping sides of the teeth 62.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that there has been developed an electrical connector having many conductors with tooth elements providing for a wiping and self-cleaning electrical contact with the conductors of mating halves of the connector. It should be apparent that the particular arrangement of conductors on pyramidical or wedged-shaped mating discs allows for variations in geometric arrangement within the spirit and scope of the previously described illustrations.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple contact, separable connector comprising: a first casing; a first dielectric material located within the casing, and having a plurality of ridges and grooves, in regular arrangement and each of said ridges and grooves forming a frustum of a pyramid; individual electrical conducing means located on each ridge and in each groove of the dielectric material; a second casing; a second dielectric material located within said second casing and having a plurality of ridges and grooves in complementary relationship to said first dielectric material; individual electrical conducting means located on each ridge and in each groove of said second dielectric material; and means for joining the first and second casings whereby the electrical conducting means of each casings are in operative contact.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,124,207 7/ 1938 Neesen 33949 2,275,762 4/ 1942 Horton 33989X 2,749,526 6/1956 Petersen 33961 2,963,677 12/1960 Kallenborn 339-48X 2,971,177 2/1961 Linhart 339--59X 3,264,601 8/1966 Hartholz 339-176 3,299,394 1/1967 Prescott 339176X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 339-89, 92 

